WTA Finals Prediction: Sabalenka vs Paolini 11/2/2025 Today’s Tennis Picks

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will face World No. 8 Jasmine Paolini in the group stage of the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh on Sunday, November 2. Here’s our Aryna Sabalenka vs Jasmine Paolini prediction. This preview will also include an Aryna Sabalenka vs Jasmine Paolini pick.

Aryna Sabalenka vs Jasmine Paolini Preview

Aryna Sabalenka is the top seed at the WTA Finals. She is making her fifth appearance at the year-end championships. It is one of the few big events that the Belarusian has not won in her career. Sabalenka was the runner-up back in 2022 and has twice made the semis in each of the last two editions. She has also been eliminated in the group stage, but that was on her debut appearance four years before she became a Grand Slam champion.

The World No. 1 is coming off an impressive 2025 season in which she headlined three Grand Slam finals. She lost at the Australian Open and French Open finals, but won the US Open in convincing fashion. Sabalenka also won titles in Brisbane, Miami and Madrid. Her undefeated streak in Wuhan came to an end this year, losing to Jessica Pegula in the semifinals. That was only her 11th defeat this season. She has won 61 matches and was the first player to qualify for the WTA Finals.

Jasmine Paolini was the second-to-last player to qualify for the WTA Finals in singles. The Italian is making her second appearance in Riyadh at the year-end championships. Last year, Paolini crowned her breakout season with a maiden appearance, but lost two of her three group matches in the tournament.

Paolini has enjoyed another great season, with the highlight being her title success in Rome in front of her home fans. She also lifted four doubles titles, including Roland Garros. Paolini has reached at least the quarterfinals in each of her last three tournaments and helped Italy retain the Billie Jean King Cup in September. Paolini’s last outing was in Ningbo, where she lost to Elena Rybakina in the semifinals.

Aryna Sabalenka vs Jasmine Paolini Head-To-Head

Sabalenka and Paolini have met six times. Sabalenka leads Paolini 5-1 in the head-to-head. Sabalenka won both meetings they contested in 2025 in straight sets. Paolini’s only win over the Belarusian was at the 2022 Indian Wells.

Aryna Sabalenka vs Jasmine Paolini Prediction

Paolini is the wild card in this group and this is the most difficult opening match she could have handpicked. Against the reigning World No. 1 and US Open champion, who was the dominant player this season. And the head-to-head is as lopsided as it gets, with Sabalenka winning 5 of 6 meetings. Back the Belarusian to kick off her campaign with a strong showing.